New online gambling advertising rules in Australia and their impact

Australia is known for its liberal approach toward gambling. You can bet, play poker or wager anything with no fear of breaking the law. There is nothing that criminalizes betting in itself. But for operators, every year there seems to be a new rule introduced. Earlier in March, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) […]

Australia is known for its liberal approach toward gambling. You can bet, play poker or wager anything with no fear of breaking the law. There is nothing that criminalizes betting in itself. But for operators, every year there seems to be a new rule introduced.

Earlier in March, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) introduced new advertising rules related to gambling. The news was not received well by man gambling companies. As per the proposals, online casinos and betting platforms would not advertise their services any time between 5.am and 8.30 a.m.

Initially, the plan was to prohibit operators from advertising on TV and radio. The Communications Authority argued that betting companies were overexposing gambling to children. They also claimed there was an outcry of the same from the country’s public and local authorities. But after realizing young people consume media mostly online, the proposition was extended to advertisements made via Internet-based platforms.

What do the Rules Mean for Australian Gamblers?

Unlike in many countries, gambling in Australia extends beyond land-based casinos. There are poker machines in numerous restaurants and gambling bars in the country. For online casino lovers; there are hundreds of platforms that accept Aussies. TV viewers and radio fans have lotteries.

In fact, 80% of Australians participate in gambling. There is no other country in the world with such a high rate of gamblers. The earlier mentioned advertising laws may help reduce gambling among children but it won’t end the country’s vibrant casino culture.

Here are some of the reasons.

Easy Access

Flexible libertarian rules mean anyone can participate in gambling. Children are prohibited from most forms of gambling but adults are not. There is no stigmatization or prejudice directed toward punters.

Whether you love betting online or playing with a slot machine, it’s easy to access wagering. Internet-based platforms are easy to join and have low entry points. But so do many slot machines in the country.

While you need to travel to a casino city in the US and spend lots of money, you can bet with a dollar or less in Aussie. Gambling facilities are in the hundreds of thousands, meaning they are more than enough for every gambler in the country.

Again, Australia’s gambling facilities and machines mainly consist of slot games, which don’t require any skills to operate. Simply visit a slot machine and feed it with some cash. You could win a jackpot within just a few minutes of learning to play.

A National Culture

When you think of any stats regarding gambling, Australians lead. From the amount gambled to the number of gamblers, even China can’t match Aussies’ numbers. Singapore, which is synonymous with gambling, comes in second.

Between 2015 and 2016, the Fairfield area in Sydney spent about $8 billion gambling, an average of $40,000 per person. The country’s government was a huge beneficiary of the proceeds. An estimated $22.74 billion was received as revenue from casino activities in 2014.

The gambling culture in Australia started way before the 20th century. While many cultures around the world have shunned casinos, Aussies embraced it. The industry was not as developed as it’s today back then, but Aussies have always enjoyed casino games.

Aggressive Marketing

One of the bases for introducing new gambling advertising rules earlier in the year was overexposure by operators. Australian casinos face stiff competition from local and international companies.

Land-based poker casinos compete tightly with online platforms for a limited market audience. To attract punters, operators in the country use aggressive marketing techniques that include offering lots of jackpots and bonuses. In a country with a national love for gambling, the enticing offers and jackpots by nearly every casino are too good to ignore.

Another way Australian casino online operators extend their businesses is to make gambling facilities accessible in nearly every place. From restaurants to bars, the Internet to the TV industry, punters in the country can find a gambling platform near them. Additionally, the casino machines are designed to hook everyone with their bright lights and clinking sounds.

A Supportive Government

While new laws are introduced once in a while, the Australian government is generally progressive when it comes to gambling. Taxes are some of the best in the world and rules generally support a favourable environment for betting companies.

Before the advent of the Internet, Australia already had progressive rules for land-based casinos. Investors who wished to open poker machines opened them with only a few regulatory hurdles. Casinos were opened in every city and TVs could run lotteries all-day long.

The positive spirit toward casinos was extended when online casinos became a thing. Australia made favourable laws for Internet casinos in the early 2000s. Nearly two decades later, there few countries that boast of having as many online casinos as Aussie.

The Entertainment

Casino games are fun. The buzzing lights, sounds, 3D graphics, and variety make playing poker and slots addictive. The sensory effect hooks you almost immediately you start playing a good game.

Online casinos are particularly increasing in popularity thanks to their advanced, fun-full games. From movie-based slots to bestseller novels-based storylines, modern casino games are action-packed and entertaining. Additionally, modern games have higher chances of winning and offer the variety players never had before poker machines alone.

In general, gambling is easy and a great way to pass time for many people. With few skills needed to play most games, it’s easy to see why most people are hooked. There is no need to download anything and you can play for as long as you want.

In Conclusion

Australia is one of the most popular gambling nations. About 96% of young people in the country participate in betting activities regularly. The average Aussie will spend up to $1200 every year gambling. Perhaps because of the high number of gamblers, the country’s government has been enforcing measures to reduce casino activities. But still, Australia has appositive spirit toward all forms of gambling.

With the high market for gambling activities, Aussie operators are some of the most competitive. It’s easy to find a great online casino in the country and participate in thousands of games.